The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday hand over a protest letter to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmoud Yakubu, accusing him of betraying Nigerians.
The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, the Executive Council and the National Working Committee including the State governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, on Monday handed over the letter to commission,
during a protest march at the headquarters of the commission on the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25, 2023.
The letter titled ‘The Position Of The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, On The Conduct, And Outcome Of The Presidential And National Assembly Elections Of February 25, 2023’ was received by the Commissioner in charge of information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye.
The PDP said it has become necessary to let the INEC chairman and other critical stakeholders and partners in the advancement of democracy in Nigeria, to know the position of the PDP with regard to the conduct and outcome of that election.
In the letter jointly signed by the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and the National Secretary, Sen. Samuel N. Anyanwu, the PDP described the role and actions of Mahmood Yakubu during and after the election as indeed disheartening.
The Party accused him of complicity saying he manipulated the process in favour of the APC.
According to the letter, the election which was the opportunity for Nigeria and which raised the hopes of all Nigerians to witness an advancement in its electoral process turned out to be a charade.
The leadership of the party, reminded the INEC boss of the outcry of many concerned citizens who variously accused the commission of complicity in a planned manipulation of the electoral process in favour of the ruling Party (APC).
“At each time the issues took the media front burner you were quick in dispelling them as rumors and mere allegations. Today Nigerians have all seen that those allegations were true.
“In many meetings and briefings your commission held with the Political Parties and the Press ahead of the 2023 general elections, you assured Nigerians that INEC under your leadership would conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible election.
“You also promised the use of the Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS) technology in voter accreditation and result management whereby the public would have unhindered access to the results uploaded to your Servers online and in real time (iREV). Contrary to this belief there was an abysmal failure on your part to honour your promises.
“Predictably, the conduct and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections fell below acceptable standards. It has resonated the fears of all Nigerians in your integrity and that of your commission to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible election.” The letter reads.
PDP said the confidence, which Yakubu created before the election and which the party reposed in the INEC and in him has been battered and eroded away by the outcome of the election.
“The masses are angry and have not hidden their resentment and rejection of the purported declaration you made to that effect.
“Without any equivocation, this election, in the history of our country elicited so much interest, awareness, commitment and dexterity in Nigerians to exercise their civic responsibility.
“The major factors that heightened the zeal and confidence of Nigerians to participate in the electoral process were the failures of the ruling APC government, the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) technology ,the Electoral Act 2022 and your repeated assurances of bequeathing Nigerians a credible electoral process.
“Everyone recalls with disappointment the reported widespread irregularities and manipulations that marred the election. There are ample evidences to show deliberate complicity of your commission in the entire fraud.
“The falsification of results and deliberate de-activation of the BVAS and your Servers to frustrate the transmission of election results directly from the Polling Units attest to that. In all these issues brought to your attention you refused to act.” The party said.
PDP further explained that Nigerians are no more in doubt of his direct involvement in aiding and abetting the monumental rigging and manipulation of the election results in favour of the ruling Party (APC).
According to the PDP, the refusal of the INEC boss and his electoral officers to transmit the results of the election directly from the Polling Units (PU) to INEC Servers as required by law is a flagrant violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
The party views the action as not only acceptable to Nigerians but to also and to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that the party stands to be challenged.
“For want of clarity, Section 64 (4) (b) of the Electoral Act 2022 specifically provides thus; “A collation officer or Returning Officer at an election shall collate and announce the result of an election subject to his or her verification and confirmation that the –
“Votes stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from Polling Units under Section 60 (4) of this Act”
“Consequent upon the above Section 60 (4) of the Electoral Act 2022, the result you have announced and the declarations made are ultra vires, illegal and of no effect except for results transmitted directly from the Polling Units.
“It is therefore circumspect that despite the agitations by Nigerians and our Party during the collation process protesting the reported irregularities surrounding the election you proceeded with the announcement of the results in utter disregard of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“It is funny and a gross abuse of our electoral process for your commission to have commenced transmission of the February 25, election results from the various Polling Units (PU) days after the results of the said election had been announced and purported winners declared. Your action in this regard is an affront on the sensibilities of all Nigerians which we have vowed to resist.
“Notably, the hasty declaration of the election results evidently violating the Electoral Act 2022 places your integrity to total scrutiny going by your deceitful representations and assurances to Nigerians and the International Community that the Electoral Act 2022 is a game changer that would guarantee a free, fair, transparent and credible electoral process especially with the BVAS transmission of election results directly from the Polling Units.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) detests and condemns this absurdity and brazen rape of our electoral process.
‘Nigeria should be seen as a country governed by the rule of law and it is a responsibility we collectively owe our citizens desirous of entrenching true democratic principles and the rule of law.
“In this circumstance we call on all Nigerians both home and in the diaspora to stand firmly in defense of their rights, votes and stolen mandate.
“In consideration of the foregoing, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) acting on the mandate of the Nigerian electorate has resolved as follows;
“To reject and declare as unacceptable the outcome, announcement and declaration of the Presidential election results.
“To call on your commission to suspend the on- going transmission of the Polling Units results to your Server which is in complete breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“To warn your commission against a repeat of the experiences of the February 25, election in the coming Governorship and State Assembly elections of March 11, 2023. Any attempt to manipulate the electoral process will be vehemently resisted.
“To call on all Nigerians to be co-partners in defense of our democracy, votes, the rule of law and their Rights to freely choose the candidates of their choice.
“To demand an explanation why you proceeded with the declaration of the election results marred with irregularities against all calls to address the complaints brought to your attention before and during the collation process.
“We are writing to you because we want to bring our grievances and demands formally to your attention for necessary action.
“Furthermore, to inform you and your commission that, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) together with the ordinary and aggrieved masses of our dear country will no longer tolerate any act in defiance of our electoral processes and laws.
“We feel pained at the outcome of the February 25, 2023 election and the provocative declaration your commission made against the will of the people. Sadly, this is coming at the time Nigerians were in high hopes of embracing a reformed electoral process.
“Please take caution in your acts to avoid destabilizing our fledgling democracy.” The letter reads.
Okoye who received the letter promised to transmit it to the INEC Chairman.
He assured that the Commission would deal with all remedial issues if any.
“So I have recieved this protes letter on behalf of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission and I promise you this letter will be transmitted to him.
If there remedial issues we will deal with those remedial issues.
“But I want to assure you that this Commission is a listening Commission this Commission is a public trust and this Commission belongs to the Nigerian people. Our allegiance is to the people of the federal Republic of Nigeria. This Commission does not owe allegiance to any political party.”
Photo Credit: Channels TV
